The Amazon Rainforest may get all the attention, but when it comes to wildlife, South America's biggest biodiversity star is the Pantanal. - (National Geographic)
The majority of the Pantanal is located in south-central Brazil but parts of it also extend into Paraguay and Bolivia. The word Pantanal comes from Pântano which in Portuguêse means swamp and is considered one of Brazil’s six biomes. The others include the Amazon Rainforest, Cerrado (tropical savanna in Eastern Brazil), Caatinga (a semi-arid part of the Northeast), Pampas (grasslands in the South) and the Atlantic Rainforest (tropical rainforest along the Atlantic coast).
With approximately 3 million habitants, the main source of income comes from cattle ranches, soy plantation and ecotourism.
What marks the Pantanal is a mosaic of rivers, lakes, swamps and mudflats and it is considered the largest wetland on Earth and if you live in Florida or have been to the Everglades consider this: The Pantanal is 10 times larger!
Seasonal flooding is the most important ecological phenomenon in the Pantanal. This biome transforms itself from swampy dry land into aquatic habitat and vice versa every year. During the flood season, from November to March, the degree of inundation from more than 1,200 rivers and streams creates a range of major habitats and occupies about 80% of the whole Pantanal. Conversely, during the dry season between April to October, the rain stops and water returns to the riverbeds.
This amazing cycle of life occurs like a swiss watch year in and year out and is responsible for the highest concentration of wildlife species in the world, including the jaguar and caiman and hundreds of species of birds.
The largest concentration of jaguars in the world is located in the Pantanal along with the Amazon Rainforest yet the best place to view South America's largest feline remains the Pantanal. To have a really satisfying meal, Jaguars stay hidden near the river banks waiting ever so silently to jump and attack whatever passes by. Usually this is a caiman or even a large andaconda. Jaguar vs Caiman
Many people, also, come to the Pantanal to view one of its estimated 650 bird species. Whether you come to simply observe or photograph our winged friends, this is a bird paradise.
For 2024, BITWB will announce several short trips to Brazil but the one to the Pantanal is sure to excite a lot of nature lovers. It's a once in a lifetime experience to visit this incredible wetland where participants will be able to navigate in comfortable boats to observe jaguars, caimans, tapirs, giant otters and countless exotic birds.
Stay tuned!
Place you name on the Waiting List for this coming soon tour.
